What chemical compound is created in the stratosphere by the initial gamma-ray pulse of a close Gamma-Ray Burst?
Answer
Nitrogen dioxide ($ ext{NO}_2$)
When the intense gamma-ray pulse from a nearby Gamma-Ray Burst arrives at Earth, traveling at the speed of light, it interacts intensely with the upper atmosphere. This high-energy radiation strips electrons from atmospheric nitrogen and oxygen molecules. The resulting chemical reaction leads to the creation of large quantities of nitrogen dioxide ($ ext{NO}_2$). This newly formed compound is the direct precursor to the destructive process that rapidly depletes the Earth's protective ozone layer.
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